The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-07-24
A Magnificent Display of Old England's
Squadron of Powerful Ships of War.
Every Class of the Navy Represented. and
the Waters of Portsmouth Harbor Gov
cred by the Finest Fleet Ever Collected.
A Marine Spectacle Whose Splendor and
Magnitude Are Without Precedent.
Belief that Ferdinand will Decline the Bull
garian Throne, Russia's Approval Being
Withheld-General Foreign News
A SPLENDID SPECTACLE.

A SPLENDID SPECTACLE
Review of Englaud's War Ships-Unprece-
dented Scene in Portsmouth Hnrbor.
PORTSMOUTH, July 23--Portsmouth and
Southsea have been thronged for days past in
anticipation Of the jubilee naval review, fixed
| for this afternoon at Spithead. The crowds
have been immensely augmented this morning
| by the arrival OF innumerable visitors from all
parts of the country who came by special trains
from London and other centers. Good positions
Tor observing the display are well occupied. The
weather could not be more favorable There is
b. ght sunshine, aud light breeze is blowing.
Everybody is in holiday attire and CAV dresses
and splendid uniforms give the crowded thor
oughfares brilliant appearance Special trains
brought down from London the Lords of the Ad
miralty, members of the House of Lords and the
House of Commons, and numerous represent.
atives of the foreign legations. Minister Phelps
travelled in a special saloon coach. He was ac-
companed by his wife and Mrs. Loomis. In the
same coach with the American minister were
Mr.. Robert McLane, United States minister to
France Mr.. Jabez L. n. Curry, United States
minister to Spain: Mr.. Henry White. second
secretary of the American legation at London.
and his wife; Lieutenant Chadwick, naval at
tache Of the American legation at London. Eand
Mrs. Chadwick; Lieut. buckingham. naval at
tache of the American legation at Paris, and
Mrs Buckingham; Hon. Thomas NJ Wal
ler United States consul-general at
London; Gen. Joseph r. Hawley. Sena-
tor Frye and Mr. A. J. Hopkins,
member of Congress from Aurora. Ill Minister
Phelps's party appeared to thoroughly enjoy
-f1l-
H. L. Horton and family were aboard the pri
yacht Ezra Rust: August jay, second
secretary of the American legation at Paris;
Chester A. Arthur. Mrs. Frank Leslie and Mr.
Logan Roots were also afoat aboard different
craft, Mr. Jay accompanied by Mr. Kane, be-
ing aboard the Helicon. the rigging of whict
was we'll hidden by flags. Mr.. w. K. Wander
bilts yacht. the Alva, was conspicuous in ths
rtsarine procession to Spithead, and was beauti
fully decorated with flags.
The scene at Portsmouth was one OF extrome
animation. Hundreds Of private crafts Of every
description, all handsomely decorated and we'll
freighted with gayly dressed people. being
anchored here. It looked like gigantic marine
picnic. The Bonnie Doom carried scores OF
Americans The crowds afioat and ashore were
enormous. On arriving at Portsmouth dock
yard the favored ones embarked on board troop
ships, appointed to convey them from here and
from Southampton to Spithead. The first troop
ships to leave with guests were two huge Indias
liners from Southampton, which excited much
admiration from the crowds on shore. They
were quickly followed by others from the Ports
mouth dock-yard jetty. Numerous large steam.
boats afforded the general public opportunity
to witness the review from the sea.
The vessels participating in the pageant al
paraders numbered 12S penants, and included
the squadrons of iron clads and cruisers, aggre-
eating thirty -four vessels seventy five torpedo
boats, gunboats aud iron defense ships divided
into five iotillas, six training bries and thirteen
troop ships. Besides these 1913 ships under
drill, there were the imperial and Indian troop
ships. appointed to carry the distinguished Wis.
ltors and the small vessels and dock yard craft
allotted to the corporation of Portsmouth, ali
Of which were we'll laden and brisky used. The
war ships were drawn up in four lines, facing
the channel, the starboard column being oppo-
site the Isle of Wight, the port column being of
Portsmouth. The ships stationed two
cables apart, the lines being three cables be-
tween The fotillas were ranged in double col
umns between the port column of iron-clads and
the main land and the troop-ships were placed
in single column between the starboard line and
the Isle of Wight. This made four lines of YES
sells on one side OF the channel and three on
the other, extending from Southsea Castle to
the Rye middle shoal. distance of over two
miles. Each ship patroled. by q steamboat.
the space between her and the ship next to the
eastward, to keep the scene free from intrusion.
The Minotaur kept clear the east approach to
the alley between the iron clad columns, and the
Agincourt did the same for the east approach to
the alley between the divisions and the fotil-
las At 10 o'clock two Devonshire tugs blocked
the west entrance to the lines to all but ships
of war and the Manly and the Malta at o'clock.
went on duty, keeping the eastern entrance 10
the lines clear. the four tugs being under the
orders of the master of the fleet The troop
ships and other vessels conveying visitors were
permitted to make a tour of the columns before
o'clock, after which tLey took up the positions
assigned them. The small vessels appro-
prated to visitors anchored ut o'clock
abreast the torpedo fotillass The private
bered several hundred. They represented the
pleasure boats of all nations and climes and
darted about like birds of different plumaae,
imparting unparalleled beauty to a scene other.
wise unprecedented The whole scene, surveyed
just before o'clock, when the naval vessels
were all in place. their decorations full flung
and their crews in holiday pose, the private crafts
hurrying to good places, and the multitudes
ashore packing themselves to best the event
of the day. was glorious in the extreme. Prob
ably such fleet was ever seen before in time
of peace. Every class of the British navy was
represented. The review of the Crmeen feet
by the Queen and the Prince Consort, thirty
years ago, would suffer by com pariscn with
this Some of the stont wooden ships which
figured in that review were visible in Porls-
mouth harbor to-day. decked bravely out for the
occasion. Nelson's old ship the Victory, wan
also conspicuous object. and her old timbers
echoed again and again as boae after boat passed
her, the full complement cheering vociferously;
more than that, the old ship mounted a gun
two and joined in the universal salute to the
Queen.
Shortly after 2 o'clock. when order was per-
ceptlble on the water the Euphrates, tho Croco-
ollie and the Maiabar proceeded to the westward
of Osborne. and stood in readiness to escor. tho
royal yachts when the Queen embarked at 3
o'clock to review the feet The Queen left
Osborne House few minutes before 3 o'clock.
and went aboard the royal yacht Victoria and
Albert Her Majesty left the buoy In Osborne
bay promptly at o'clock. She preceded by
the Trinity yacht, and was followed by the royal
yachts Osborne and Albert. and the ships En-
chautress, Hel.con Euphrates, Crocodile and
Malabar. The royal procession proceeded